Laykyn Owczarzak couldn’t picture a future for herself. That thought created the spark that changed her life. The 20-year-old from Essexville used to weigh 320 pounds. She had low self-esteem, walked through her school hallways with her head down and tried to hide from bullying from both classmates and teachers.

A Bay City woman is facing a pair of felonies due to prosecutors alleging she lied to obtain more than $20,000 in welfare money. Tashawn J. Davis, 39, is charged with welfare fraud of $500 or more and welfare fraud, failure to inform of $500 or more. Both charges are punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

With a squeaky cry and a head full of dark blond hair, Hendrix Moon entered the world as the first baby born in Bay County in 2013. The 4-pound, 13-ounce baby boy arrived about a month early but is doing well, said his parents, Maeghan Hartley, 25, and Keith Lavrack, 26, both of Bay City.